Kells Monastic Site

Once the home of the famous Book of Kells

Notice

Kells Round Tower is a National Monument in state guardianship

*Site is currently closed due to ongoing conservation works*

WARNING: It should be noted that these sites are unguided and a level of care and caution should be maintained during all stages of your visit. The Office Of Public Works (OPW) will not be held responsible for any damages, injuries, or losses that occur

Kells Monastic Site

The monastic settlement of Kells was founded by St. Columba in the mid-6^th century. The relics of St. Columba were relocated from Iona to Kells in 878AD. It is said that they were once held in St. Columb’s House/Cell.

The first confirmed record of Kells Round Tower dates to 1076 as the King of Tara, Murchadh O’Melaghlin, was murdered there. The entrance doorway is 1.5m above ground level, is round-arched and made of sandstone. The tower, with its conical cap missing, has five floors and has five pointed windows at the top. Typically cardinal windows are found at the top of round towers, but it is believed the five pointed windows atop the round tower look upon the access roads and town gate of Kells.

Five crosses are found within the former monastic settlement. The North cross, made of sandstone, consists of a base decorated with interlace. The South cross, known as the Cross of St. Patrick and St. Columba, has representations of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, the children in the furnace, and Daniel in the lion’s den on its east face. The head has interlace with seven bosses at the crux, the sacrifice of Isaac, Saints Paul and Anthony, and David playing a harp. The west side has a crucifixion on the shaft and Christ in majesty on the head. The extremities of the arms have David killing a lion at north and at south. The East cross, also known as the broken cross, is unfinished and depicts the baptism of Christ, the marriage feast of Cana, the raising of Lazarus, Christ and the adulteress, the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the three Wise men and Herod, Adam and Eve, Noah’s ark, Moses in Egypt, and Moses with the pillar of fire.

The Book of Kells, Ireland’s most famous ornate manuscript containing the four gospels in Latin, was previously kept in the monastic settlement of Kells.

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This national monument is protected in accordance with the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014